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•HEALTHCARE. Amarin Pharma Inc. has contracted with Covington & Burling to lobby on “PDUFA: FDA special protocol assessment agreement process,” according to lobbying disclosure records. William Wichterman, former policy adviser to ex-Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.), and Muftiah McCartin, once staff director for the House Rules Committee, are some of the lobbyists on the account.

Venn Strategies has signed up with BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. to lobby on “orphan drugs and rare diseases, matters related to reimbursement policy.” Noelle Lundberg, once legislative director for former Rep. Bill Archer (R-Texas), and Tim Carey, ex-legislative director for Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.), are some of the lobbyists on the account.

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•LAW ENFORCEMENT. Former Homeland Security Department chief Tom Ridge’s firm has picked up another client. The GEO Group, a correctional and detention services company based in Boca Raton, Fla., has signed up Ridge Policy Group for “discussions regarding closure of federal prisons.” Some of Ridge’s former aides in Congress and at the Homeland Security Department, including Mark Holman and Mark Campbell, are lobbying for the company.

•NATURAL RESOURCES. Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld has been hired by RGGS Mineral Operations, based in Houston, for “lobbying in support of H.R. 696.” That bill, known as the Lyon County Economic Development and Conservation Act, would convey federal land in Lyon and Mineral Counties to Yerington, Nev. Ryan Thompson, once chief of staff for Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), is lobbying for the company.

•TAX. Tax software maker Intuit has hired The Smith-Free Group to lobby on mobile payments, tax settlement products, financial services and information reporting. Andy Barbour, a former deputy assistant U.S. trade representative; Jack Deuser, once chief of staff to ex-Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.); and Phil Kiko, formerly staff director and general counsel for the House Administration Committee, are lobbying for the company. A number of other firms also lobby for Intuit, including Elmendorf Ryan and Franklin Square Group.

•TELECOMMUNICATIONS. ML Strategies has been hired by Charter Communications Operating to lobby on telecommunications issues. Jeremy Rabinovitz, once chief of staff to several Democratic House members; David Leiter, former chief of staff to then-Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.); and Jason Rosenstock, legislative counsel to the late Rep. Tom Lantos (D-Calif.), are lobbying for the company.